Flashlight is evidently a good weapon

On Jan. 6, 1921, John Edwards, a very brave employee of the Central Garage on Dixie Highway, owned by Bert Krueger, was able to capture a thief.

Edwards slept in the garage, but was awakened by some noise that night.

Armed with only a flashlight, he investigated, discovering John Harrison Wilson at the cash register.

Edwards confronted Wilson, shining the flashlight directly at the man, who then surrendered.

Edwards marched the thief, flashlight in hand, to the residence of City Marshal Hix C. Stuart, to be charged with breaking and entering. The only items found on Wilson were some .38 caliber cartridges.

The Krueger Building with the Central Garage on the right side.(Photo11: CONTRIBUTED BY THE THURLOW COLLECTION)

Babcock's equipped fire department

Due to the efforts of Chief Bert Babcock, the Stuart Fire Department was reorganized between June and September 1921.

Babcock actually constructed a fire truck with little cost to the city, thus permitting other purchases of supplies and equipment for the department.

A 1920 model, 40-horsepower Nash coupe which had caught fire north of Stuart was towed to Bert's garage, he realizing the possibility of it being converted into a much needed city fire truck. Bert secured title to the car and began its transformation.

The fire truck built by Babcock and the firemen on board in the 1920s.(Photo11: CONTRIBUTED BY THE LUCKHARDT COLLECTION)

The vehicle would be 14 feet long, capable of carrying 700 feet of water hose, 200 feet of hose for the chemical tank, ladders, extinguishers, with a rear platform step and grab rails for the firemen.

It was as good as any other fire truck that could be purchased, freshly painted and lettered, Bert only charging the city $785, with an assessed value of $3,000.

Babcock had 16 volunteers who practiced fire fighting techniques every Thursday afternoon. The chief was paid $10 for each fire, a volunteer assistant receiving $2.

Sidewalks in Stuart

In March 1921, the city council authorized construction of sidewalks in Stuart at a cost of $15,000 or 17½ cents per square yard.

The contractor, Palmer and Shore of WPB, completed the work by the first of June, also repairing and widening some of the existing streets.

Yacht Club: popular social center

The St. Lucie River Yacht Club, opened in 1918 on the river, was remodeled in 1922, doubling its size.

Dues were $25 for family membership, $15 single, ladies being permitted to bring escorts to any of the evening social programs.

The club gained 15 new members in January of that year, a popular rendezvous in the winter season, with as many as six yachts moored at the club's docks at the same time.

Newly enlarged St. Lucie River Yacht Club in 1924.(Photo11: CONTRIBUTED BY THE STUART HERITAGE MUSEUM)

Stuart's first fair

Although there had been fairs held in Palm Beach County, especially WPB, through the years, Stuart would offer its citizens a real country fair and fruit festival for the first time in 1923.

Planned and advertised for weeks by the Stuart Commercial Club and Woman's Club, the several day event would be Feb. 22-24.

As many as 35 booths were set up in the business district on Railroad Avenue (Flagler) with perhaps 50 others nearby for exhibitors from Stuart, Palm City, Tropical Farms, Sewall's Point, Indiantown, Salerno and Port Sewall featuring locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers or tropical plants.

The Florida East Coast railroad contributed $500 in prizes for the best exhibits.

One of the more unusual of these was Judge John B. Adams's collection of some 150 varieties of Florida fish, also including coral specimens, shells and fossils.

A rather unique entry from Sewall's Point, was Captain Hugh Willoughby's herd of goats, considered some of the finest in America.

Entertainment on the midway in the evening was provided by the Bascom & Tishiam Shows.

Stuart Fair in February 1923.(Photo11: CONTRIBUTED BY THE THURLOW COLLECTION)

A headliner attraction for two free performances, Friday, Feb. 23, were the Flying LaMars, presenting a trapeze act 40 feet above the ground, with daring stunts in midair without protection of a net.

The fair was a success and the citizens quite impressed by such famed performers in the little town of Stuart.

Part 2 of 1920-24 will be printed next Wednesday., March 14, in Your News.